Pressure monitoring system for wet barrel hydrant

Abstract

A pressure monitoring system for a wet barrel hydrant includes an outer housing defining a sidewall shell and a cap coupled to the sidewall shell; a sensor housing defining a connector, a housing cavity, and an opening formed through the sensor housing and allowing access to the housing cavity, the connector configured to couple the pressure monitoring system to a wet barrel hydrant; and a base assembly coupled to the sidewall shell and defining a central support and a cylindrical wall, the cylindrical wall extending from the central support towards the cap, the sensor housing coupled to the central support opposite the cylindrical wall.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pressure monitoring system for a wet barrel hydrant comprising:
 an outer housing defining a sidewall shell and a cap coupled to the sidewall shell; 
 a sensor housing defining a connector, a housing cavity, and an opening formed through the sensor housing and allowing access to the housing cavity, the connector configured to couple the pressure monitoring system to the wet barrel hydrant, wherein the housing cavity is in communication with an environment external to the pressure monitoring system through the opening; and 
 a base assembly coupled to the sidewall shell and defining a central support and a cylindrical wall, the cylindrical wall extending from the central support towards the cap, the sensor housing coupled to the central support opposite the cylindrical wall. 
 
     
     
       2. The pressure monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the central support defines a mounting bore aligned with a mounting bore of the sensor housing, the pressure monitoring system further comprising a fastener, the fastener extending through the mounting bore of the central support and into the mounting bore of the sensor housing to secure the base assembly to the sensor housing. 
     
     
       3. The pressure monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall shell defines an upper end and a lower end, the cap coupled to the sidewall shell at the upper end, the base assembly coupled to the sidewall shell at the lower end. 
     
     
       4. The pressure monitoring system of  claim 3 , wherein the pressure monitoring system defines a center axis, the base assembly comprising a mounting flange extending radially outward from the central support, the mounting flange coupled to the sidewall shell at the lower end. 
     
     
       5. The pressure monitoring system of  claim 4 , wherein the sidewall shell defines a shell mounting bore and the mounting flange defines a hydrant mounting bore aligned with the shell mounting bore, the pressure monitoring system further comprising a security screw extending through the shell mounting bore and into the hydrant mounting bore to secure the sidewall shell to the base assembly. 
     
     
       6. The pressure monitoring system of  claim 5 , wherein the pressure monitoring system further comprises a cone point screw received in the hydrant mounting bore, the security screw configured to engage the cone point screw to move the cone point screw radially inward towards the sensor housing. 
     
     
       7. The pressure monitoring system of  claim 6 , wherein an annular groove is defined between the mounting flange and the sensor housing, the cone point screw extending into the annular groove. 
     
     
       8. The pressure monitoring system of  claim 1 , further comprising an antenna assembly comprising an antenna board and an antenna mounted to the antenna board, the antenna board mounted to the cap. 
     
     
       9. The pressure monitoring system of  claim 8 , wherein the sidewall shell comprises a metal material and the cap comprises a plastic material. 
     
     
       10. The pressure monitoring system of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery housing configured to receive a battery pack therein, the battery housing engaging the cylindrical wall distal to the central support. 
     
     
       11. The pressure monitoring system of  claim 10 , wherein the sidewall shell defines a shoulder configured to engage the battery housing to retain the battery housing against the cylindrical wall of the base assembly. 
     
     
       12. The pressure monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cap defines a clip extending axially towards the base assembly; 
 the sidewall shell defines an interior annular ridge extending radially inward; and 
 the clip engages the interior annular ridge to secure the cap to the sidewall shell. 
 
     
     
       13. The pressure monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the connector of the sensor housing is a threaded connector defining external threading. 
     
     
       14. The pressure monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor housing abuts a lower surface of the central support. 
     
     
       15. A wet barrel fire hydrant comprising:
 a barrel defining a top end, a side, and an interior hydrant cavity, the top end defining a hydrant bore in fluid communication with the interior hydrant cavity, a nozzle extending from the side of the barrel; 
 a pressure monitoring subsystem coupled to the top end of the barrel and comprising a sensor housing, a housing cavity, an opening allowing access to the housing cavity, and pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of a fluid received in the wet barrel fire hydrant, wherein the pressure sensor defines a sensing end and an opposite wire end, the sensing end extends through the opening and is disposed in one of the hydrant bore and the interior hydrant cavity, and the wire end is disposed within the housing cavity and connected to a pressure sensor wire housed within the pressure monitoring subsystem; and 
 a leak detection subsystem coupled to the nozzle and comprising a vibration sensor configured to measure vibrations in a pipeline system connected to the wet barrel fire hydrant. 
 
     
     
       16. The wet barrel fire hydrant of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the sensor housing defines a threaded flange defining external threading; 
 the hydrant bore defines a threaded bore wall defining internal threading; and 
 the threaded flange engages the threaded bore wall to secure the pressure monitoring subsystem to the top end of the barrel. 
 
     
     
       17. The wet barrel fire hydrant of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the pressure monitoring subsystem further comprises a mounting flange; 
 an annular groove is defined between the mounting flange and the threaded flange; 
 a hydrant flange extends from the top end of the barrel; and 
 the hydrant flange is disposed in the annular groove. 
 
     
     
       18. The wet barrel fire hydrant of  claim 17 , wherein the mounting flange defines a hydrant mounting bore, and a cone point screw is received within the hydrant mounting bore and engages the hydrant flange to further secure the pressure monitoring subsystem to the top end of the barrel. 
     
     
       19. The wet barrel fire hydrant of  claim 15 , further comprising a threaded mounting nut mounted within the hydrant bore, the pressure monitoring subsystem comprising a threaded flange, the threaded flange engaging the threaded mounting nut to secure the pressure monitoring subsystem to the top end of the barrel. 
     
     
       20. The wet barrel fire hydrant of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the pressure monitoring subsystem comprises a first antenna configured to send a pressure signal representative of the pressure; 
 the leak detection subsystem comprising a second antenna configured to send a leak signal representative of the vibrations; and 
 the second antenna is in communication with the first antenna. 
 
     
     
       21. The wet barrel fire hydrant of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the pressure monitoring subsystem comprises a sidewall shell and a cap; 
 the cap comprises a non-ferrous material; 
 the first antenna is coupled to an antenna board; and 
 the antenna board is mounted to the cap. 
 
     
     
       22. The wet barrel fire hydrant of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the leak detection subsystem comprises a cap body and a cap axis extending through the cap body; 
 the vibration sensor defines a sensor axis extending from a first sensor end of the vibration sensor to a second sensor end of the vibration sensor; and 
 the sensor axis is aligned substantially perpendicular to the cap axis.